5 Things You Can Re-Purpose From Your Wardrobe This Summer

Sometimes, being thrifty is the need of the hour. Or the wallet. Either way, you might want to limit your summer shopping spree to the it-pieces you've had your eyes on for a while. And the best way to save up for what you've declared as wardrobe must-haves for the season, is to refashion the things resting idly in your closet, into staple items you don't want to shell out extra bucks for. Yes, I'm talking about all those clothes lying at the back of your wardrobe, that you only sift through when your mum is looking for a new pochha. 

Regardless of what led to the nation-wide lockdown, all this time alone at home has certainly sparked off creativity in a lot of us. We've seen a parade of DIY content on the inter-verse, urging people to re-model, re-use and re-furbish things into truly useful things. But jokes on them, we fashion-junkies have been doing it since forever, definitely before it became the latest Instagram trend. So this summer 2020, let's save some money, and while we're at it, breathe new life into neglected clothes waiting for their moment to shine. And with that, here are 5 ideas to repurpose old clothes into new summer apparel. 

1. Old Solid T-Shirt --> Tie-Dye Tank

Tie-dye is all about the season of summer, and when you can create one for yourself at home, what more could we ask the fashion gods for? If you have an old ratty t-shirt in a light solid colour lying around the house, all you need is a pair of scissors to give it the shame of a jersey tank top like this one. Brushing up on your sewing skills is highly recommended to give your tank a neat finish. Next up, the actual tying and dyeing bit! Here's a guide to DIY Tie-Dye with easy to follow instructions. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

2. White Shirt --> Off Shoulder Top 

This is a styling trick that's only now starting to catch up in popularity. All you need to do, is wear a white button-down shirt, but with a spin. Instead of putting all the buttons together the traditional way, simply pull back your shirt till it's gathered around your shoulder, like Rebecca did in this picture. Close off the rest off your buttons, flip the collar inward, and voila! Chic, summery off-shoulder top without spending an additional Rupee! 

Image Courtesy - Rebecca Laurey

3. Old Jeans --> Frayed Hem Denim Shorts 

This one has been around for as long as we can remember. Except the 2020 version would fare well with a pair that's more high-waisted. If you don't have any high-waisted jeans to spare yourself, just take an old one from your dad's closet. Cut off where you want your shorts to fall, and use sandpaper or a cheese grater for the frayed hem effect, We'd recommend getting the waist cinched by an actual tailor, or you could just put a broad belt on! 

Image Courtesy - Zaful

4. Printed Kurta --> Cover Up Long Shrug 

All of us have printed kurtas lying around the house, that we just seem to have grown out of. Or, this could be an ideal repurpose idea for you, if you find yourself drawn to indo-western ensembles. Just use a scale and piece of chalk to mark a straight line down the middle of your kurta. Next, cut through the line with some scissors, very, very carefully, following your chalk outline. Snip off any frayed bits, and you've got yourself a brand new long shrug for the summer.

Image Courtesy - Pinterest 

5.  Button-Down -->Wrap Shirt 

Wow, an actual DIY idea that you can genuinely do yourself. Who would've thought! Again, more along the lines of creative styling tips, if you have a button-down you're massively bored of wearing the usual way, just turn it into a trendy wrap shirt. Super-easy, all you need to do is NOT button the shirt, and instead take one side such that it overlaps the other, and tuck into a pair of high-waisted pants. 

Image Courtesy - Pop Sugar 

Part-time innovator, full-time fashionista!